Breitling B55 Connected

Pre-Baselworld 2015...

This is the new B55 from Breilting. Despite the hype about Swiss smartwatches (most of which I believe is misplaced), this could be the most exciting Swiss luxury smartwatch yet. 

Breitling calls their watch “a new-generation connected chronograph”.  Connected to a mobile app via Bluetooth, the B55 caliber is based off of Breitling’s B50 caliber which debuted last year.  Design-wise, Breitling made good design choices, with the exception of the marking at 9 o'clock. There is a good video below. 

A cool feature, but one that I have seen before is that when the user changes the time on the app, it automatically updates the time on the watch.  Again, like the last post, I will steal an excerpt from their press release. 

Since the main assets of a smartphone are its screen and its ergonomic interface, owners of the B55 Connected can use their phone to perform certain adjustments (time-setting, timezones, alarms, display and operating parameters, night mode, etc.). The result is a considerable gain in comfort and efficiency. Conversely, the user may also upload the results of various measurements (flight times, etc.) from the chronograph to the smartphone so as to be able to read them more easily, store them or pass them on. The new connected watch system devised by Breitling thus facilitates use of the chronograph functions, in keeping with the spirit of authentic instruments for professionals. The B55 Connected is also distinguished by its ultra-technical look, based on a titanium case with black carbon-based coating and a dial adorned with a blue wireless symbol. This original blue and black theme continues on the sturdy rubber strap.

The B55 Connected boasts a wide range of innovative functions that make it the ultimate pilot’s instrument, including an electronic tachometer, a countdown/countup system enabling a sequence of countdown and “long duration” timing (Mission Elapsed Time) operations, along with an eminently aviation-oriented “chrono flight” device that is useful in recording flight times while memorizing the take-off time, landing time and date. It is equipped with a particularly simple and logical control mode, involving function selection by rotating the crown, and activation/deactivation by means of two pushpieces.

Overall, it looks like a good step for Breitling, but I do not believe it will have mass-market appeal. You are taking luxury watch buyers (which is already a small part of the total population), then reducing your market further to those that are simply interested in smartwatches. http://www.breitling.com/en/